R. Kurland, H. Schurig, M. Rosenfeld, M. J. Herriage, E. Gaddy, D. Keys, C. Faust, W. Andiario, M. Kurtz, E. Moyer
{"title":"Terra flexible blanket solar array deployment, on-orbit performance and future applications","authors":"R. Kurland, H. Schurig, M. Rosenfeld, M. J. Herriage, E. Gaddy, D. Keys, C. Faust, W. Andiario, M. Kurtz, E. Moyer","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916070","url":null,"abstract":"The Terra spacecraft (formerly identified as EOS AM-1) is the flagship in a planned series of NASA/GSFC Earth observing system satellites designed to provide information on the health of the Earth's land, oceans, air, ice, and life as a total ecological global system. It has been successfully performing its mission since a late-December 1999 launch into a 705 km polar orbit. The spacecraft is powered by a single wing, flexible blanket array using single junction (SJ) gallium arsenide/germanium (GaAs/Ge) solar cells sized to provide 5 year end-of-life (EOL) power of greater than 5000 W at 127 volts. It is currently the highest voltage and power operational flexible blanket array with GaAs/Ge cells. This paper briefly describes the wing design as a basis for discussing the operation of the electronics and mechanisms used to achieve successful on-orbit deployment. Its orbital electrical performance to date is presented and compared to analytical predictions based on ground qualification testing. The paper concludes with a brief section on future applications and performance trends using advanced multi-junction cells and weight-efficient mechanical components.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122341037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of an electrostatically clean solar array panel","authors":"T. Stern, D. E. Krumweide, E. Gaddy, I. Katz","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916141","url":null,"abstract":"The results of design, analysis, and qualification of an electrostatically clean solar array (ECSA) panel are described. The objective of the ECSA design is to provide an electrostatic environment that does not interfere with sensitive instruments on scientific spacecraft. The ECSA design uses large, ITO-coated coverglasses that cover multiple solar cells, an aperture grid that covers the inter-cell areas, stress-relieved interconnects for connecting the aperture grid to the coverglasses, and edge clips to provide an electromagnetically shielded enclosure for the solar array active circuitry. Qualification coupons were fabricated and tested for photovoltaic response, conductivity, and survivability to launch acoustic and thermal cycling environments simulating LEO and GEO missions. The benefits of reducing solar panel interaction with the space environment are also discussed.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128583852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Damiani, R. Ludemann, D. Ruby, S. H. Zaidi, A. Rohatgi
{"title":"Development of RIE-textured silicon solar cells","authors":"B. Damiani, R. Ludemann, D. Ruby, S. H. Zaidi, A. Rohatgi","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.915843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.915843","url":null,"abstract":"A maskless plasma texturing technique using reactive ion etching (RIE) for silicon solar cells results in a very low reflectance of 5.4% before, and 3.9% after SiN deposition. A detailed study of surface recombination and emitter properties was made, then solar cells were fabricated using the DOSS solar cell process. Different plasma-damage removal treatments are tested to optimize low lifetime solar cell efficiencies. Highest efficiencies are observed for little or no plasma-damage removal etching on mc-Si. Increased J/sub sc/ due to the RIE texture proved superior to a single layer anti-reflection coating. This indicates that RIE texturing is a promising texturing technique, especially applicable on lower lifetime (multicrystalline) silicon. The use of nontoxic, noncorrosive SF/sub 6/ makes this process attractive for mass production.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"116 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124307825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diffraction grating structures in solar cells","authors":"S. H. Zaidi, J. Gee, D. Ruby","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.915850","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.915850","url":null,"abstract":"Sub-wavelength periodic texturing (gratings) of crystalline-silicon (c-Si) surfaces for solar cell applications can be designed for maximizing optical absorption in thin c-Si films. The authors have investigated c-Si grating structures using rigorous modeling, hemispherical reflectance and internal quantum efficiency measurements. Model calculations predict almost /spl sim/100% energy coupling into obliquely propagating diffraction orders. By fabrication and optical characterization of a wide range of 1D and 2D c-Si grating structures, they have achieved broadband, low (/spl sim/5%) reflectance without an antireflection film. By integrating grating structures into conventional solar cell designs, they have demonstrated short-circuit current density enhancements of 3.4 and 4.1 mA/cm/sup 2/ for rectangular and triangular 1D grating structures compared to planar controls. The effective path length enhancements due to these gratings were 2.2 and 1.7, respectively. Optimized 2D gratings are expected to have even better performance.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130875309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"InGaP/GaAs/Ge multi-junction solar cell efficiency improvements using epitaxial germanium","authors":"D. Aiken","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916053","url":null,"abstract":"Triple junction InGaP/GaAs/Ge solar cells are highly current mismatched due to the excess current generating capability of the germanium subcell. This severe current mismatch invites new approaches for increasing performance beyond that of current triple junctions. Presented here are two approaches for improving the efficiency of Ill-V multi-junctions beyond that of current triple junction technology. Both of these approaches involve the use of thin epitaxial germanium and do not require the development of new /spl sim/1 eV photovoltaic materials. The theoretical AM0 efficiency is over 30%. Modeling suggests the potential for over 1.5% absolute efficiency gain with respect to current InGaP/GaAs/Ge triple junction solar cells.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"133 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114398787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of ground-fault protection devices for photovoltaic power system applications","authors":"Ward Bower, J. Wiles","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916149","url":null,"abstract":"Photovoltaic (PV) power systems, like other electrical systems, may be subject to unexpected ground faults. Installed PV systems always have invisible elements other than those indicated by their electrical schematics. Stray inductance, capacitance and resistance are distributed throughout the system. Leakage currents associated with the PV modules, the interconnected array, wires, surge protection devices and conduit add up and can become large enough to look like a ground-fault. PV systems are frequently connected to other sources of power or energy storage such as batteries, standby generators, and the utility grid. This complex arrangement of distributed power and energy sources, distributed impedance and proximity to other sources of power requires sensing of ground faults and proper reaction by the ground-fault protection devices. The different DC grounding requirements (country to country) often add more confusion to the situation. This paper discusses the ground-fault issues associated with both the DC and AC side of PV systems and presents test results and operational impacts of backfeeding commercially available AC ground-fault protection devices under various modes of operation. Further, the measured effects of backfeeding the tripped ground-fault devices for periods of time comparable to anti-islanding allowances for utility interconnection of PV inverters in the United States are reported.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"91 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123188677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. King, J. Kratochvil, M. Quintana, T. J. McMahon
{"title":"Applications for infrared imaging equipment in photovoltaic cell, module, and system testing","authors":"D. King, J. Kratochvil, M. Quintana, T. J. McMahon","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916175","url":null,"abstract":"Anomalous temperature distributions are often an indication of atypical behavior in a device under investigation. Portable infrared (IR) imaging systems (cameras) now provide a convenient method for measuring both absolute and relative temperature distributions on small and large components with a high degree of temperature and spatial resolution. This diagnostic tool can be applied during the development, production, monitoring, and repair of photovoltaic cells, modules, and systems. Planar objects with nearly uniform material composition are ideally suited for analysis using IR imaging. This paper illustrates investigations of localized shunting in cells, resistive solder bonds in field-aged modules, module bypass diode functionality, reverse-bias (hot spot) heating in modules, temperature distributions in flat-plate and concentrator modules, batteries during charging, and electronic component temperature in power processing equipment.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"65 246 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125959281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New methods for measuring performance of monolithic multi-junction solar cells","authors":"D. King, B. Hansen, J. M. Moore, D. Aiken","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916103","url":null,"abstract":"The commercialization of multi-junction solar cells for both space and terrestrial applications has increased the need to accurately determine cell performance using typical solar simulators and test equipment. This paper describes specific test methods recently applied in characterizing the performance of both tandem and triple-junction solar cells. Methods applied included: current-voltage measurements in forward and reverse bias using a xenon-arc solar simulator; absolute spectral response measurements of separate junctions using both light and voltage bias; a device simulation model; and a spectral mismatch calculation procedure tailored to multi-junction cells. Procedures are illustrated using measurements for GaInP-GaAs tandem cells, GaInP-GaAs-Ge triple-junction cells, and Ge cells supplied by different manufacturers.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"500 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123068524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Kroposki, W. Marion, D. L. King, W. Boyson, J. Kratochvil
{"title":"Comparison of module performance characterization methods","authors":"B. Kroposki, W. Marion, D. L. King, W. Boyson, J. Kratochvil","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916156","url":null,"abstract":"The rating and modeling of photovoltaic (PV) module performance has been of concern to manufacturers and system designers for over 20 years. Both the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) have developed methodologies to predict module and array performance under actual operating conditions. This paper compares the two methods of determining the performance of PV modules. The methods translate module performance to actual or reference conditions using slightly different approaches. The accuracy of both methods is compared for both hourly, daily, and annual energy production over a year of data recorded at NREL in Golden, CO, USA. The comparison of the two methods is presented for five different PV module technologies.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130424922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Removing barriers to utility interconnected photovoltaic inverters","authors":"S. Gonzalez, R. Bonn, J. Ginn","doi":"10.1109/PVSC.2000.916228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2000.916228","url":null,"abstract":"The Million Solar Roofs Initiative has motivated a renewed interest in the development of utility interconnected photovoltaic (UIPV) inverters. Government-sponsored programs (PVMaT, PV:BONUS) and competition among utility interconnected inverter manufacturers have stimulated innovations and improved the performance of existing technologies. With resurgence, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) developed a program to assist industry initiatives overcome barriers to UIPV inverters. In accordance with newly adopted IEEE Std 929-2000, the interconnected PV inverters are to energizing the utility grid when disturbance occurs or the utility experiences an interruption in service. Compliance with IEEE Std 929-2000 is being widely adopted by utilities as a minimum requirement for utility interconnection. This report summarizes work done at the SNL balance-of-systems laboratory to support the development of IEEE Std 929-2000 and to assist manufacturers in meeting its requirements.","PeriodicalId":139803,"journal":{"name":"Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036)","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130869053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}